Dust and mouse proof drawer-case.



N0. 683,0). Patented D60. 3, 19m.

' S. J. SIMMONS.

DUST AND MOUSE PROOF DRAWER CASE.

A i ucauon filed Oct. 30, 1900.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES %1 ATTORNEY.

ms mums "ETLHS co. PNUYo-LITNO.WASHIHGTON, u c,

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL J. SIMMONS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

DUST AND MOUSE PROOF DRAWER-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 688,010, dated December 3, 1901.

Application filed October 30, 1900. Serial No. 34,966. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL JOHN SIMMoNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dust and Mouse Proof Drawer-Cases and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to articles of furniture of various kinds and types having sliding drawers, as well as to specially-designed cases and drawers; and the object is to render sliding drawers proof against dust, mice, and roaches in an inexpensive manner both in new and old structures.

The invention consists in a metallic protector or cover of improved form adapted to inclose the top and. back end of a sliding drawer and attached to the stationary frame in which the drawer is mounted, so as to exclude dust and mice and large insects from the interior of the drawer; and it consists also in the parts and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a case of drawers or chiffonnier, in which one drawer is omitted and exposing the draw-cover connected therewith; Fig. 2, a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on a line X X in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on a line Y Y in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the detached drawer cover or protector, and Fig. 5 an enlarged detail view showing parts similarly to those represented in Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures of the drawings designate similar parts. In carrying out my invention I may make slight modifications in minor details of construction of the drawer-cover, so that it may may be employed most suitably in new work, in which case the drawer may also be slightly modified and the cover may be readily adapted to old drawers and cases or frames with but slight modifications.

The drawings illustrate only one type of drawer-case, being a popular type; but it is obvious that my invention is applicable to many styles of cases in which a sliding drawer is mounted. r

In the drawings, A designates a sliding drawer of the well-known form, comprising besides a front panel a pair of sides a a, a bottom b, and a back d.

B designates a horizontal rail, usually extending across the top of the front panel of a drawer; G C, horizontal slides supporting the drawer; D D, side guides for the drawer; E E, stops for the drawer; F, the back of the drawer-case; G, the top of the case; H H, the frame-posts of the case; I, the drawer-protector, and n n the sides of the case.

The protector I consists of a thin metallic plate of rectangular form in plan and of suitable dimensions to cover the drawer that is to be protected, so that the distance between j and j shall be equal to the extreme Width of the drawer at the outer sides of the sides a a, and so that when the front edge I is above the front panel of the drawerthe plate shall extend over the back (1 and bend down, as at m, and form an apron J at the outer side of the back d. Near the front edge I are a suitable number of perforations e, through which suitable nails h or screws are inserted and driven into the rail B above a drawer, thus securing the plate to the rail. In some cases I may provide a slot f to receive a lock-bolt, and, if desired, I may form a flange, as indicated by a line i, so that the plate may be attached to the inner side of the rail B. In some cases the edges at 70, Fig. 4, may be cut away or notched, so that the length of the apron will be reduced and the edges Z Z, Fig. 3, pass between the sides a a, that extend beyond the back (1. As the plate I is rigidly supported only at its front edge I, its weight causes it to drop slightly at its rear end and body portion, and consequently lie close to the top of the drawer, and thereby effectually perform the desired functions. In Fig. 5 the protector and drawer are shown as slightly separated to illustrate that one is not attached to the other; but in practice ICO they should be fitted so as to act closely together. In fitting the protector to old workin case the drawer is close to the rail B the flange i maybe advantageous. If desired, the rear part of the lower face of the rail B may be cut away to let in the plate, so that its front edge I may not be seen at the front of the case. Usually the edge I is so thin as to be scarcely perceptible between the drawer and rail. In some cases the apron J may be dispensed with.

Inasmuch as there is a tendency when a drawer is drawn out to tip up at its rear end it is desirable that the protector be free to rise with the drawer and again return with it to a normal position without binding against the drawer. In this construction the drawer is always free to move as easily as it would without the protector, which is an advantage, and this is attained, as will be seen, by leaving the protector free at its rear end, and as it drops somewhat from this point of support it must always incline to form a close contact with the top of the drawer.

In practical use it will be apparent that when the protector I is mounted as described a drawer may slide with its top edges against the under side of the protector-plate without restriction and floating dust cannot fall into the top of the drawer when closed, neither can accumulations of dust in the inner ledges of the case fall into the drawer when the drawer is moving. All the corners at which a mousemight otherwise begin making a hole are protected by the metallic plate and its apron.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a drawer-protector, the combination with the case, of the rail at the front thereof, the protector-plate extending from said rail in an inclined position toward the rear portion of the case, and the drawer sliding under, and when closed, supporting said inclined portion of said plate, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a drawer-protector, the combination with the drawerand the rail above the drawer, of the herein-described device consisting of thesubstantiallyconcavo-convexplate having at one edge thereof the perforations and having at the opposite edge the apron depending from the concave side of said plate, said plate being self-fitting upon and supported at its rear edge by the drawer and said apron elastically pressing against the rear part of the drawer, the said perforated edge being supported by the rail above the front of the drawer, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL J. SIMMONS.

Witnesses:

WM. H. PAYNE,

J. T. SILvIUs. 

